Tropea tourism spending jumps 32% in H1 2026 as Mastercard data reveals

A pilot project by the Tropea Hotelier Association, HBenchmark and Mastercard measured the economic impact of tourism in Tropea. Using Mastercard’s Destination‑Geospending platform, the study tracked visitor spending from January to June 2026, showing a 32% rise in total spend compared with the same period in 2025. International visitors accounted for 74% of the volume, with Germany remaining the top foreign market, growing 8% year‑on‑year. The hospitality sector saw the strongest gains, with restaurant spending up 42%, food retail up 32% and accommodation up 23%.

Separately, the tourism hub “Destinazione Molise” launched the third cycle of its free professional training programme at the University of Molise in Pesche. Starting 19 August, the six‑week course covers tourism marketing, event management, social‑media identity, and the economics of tourism enterprises, culminating in an “Ambassador of Hospitality” certificate for participants from the Molise region.